masterwordsmith-unplugged

written by Jim Kouri and posted on January 11, 2008 in Renew America

The maverick attorneys at Judicial Watch, a public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, recently released their list of Washington DC's "Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians of 2007." The list being circulated in alphabetical order includes several presidential candidates such as Hillary Clinton, Rudy Guiliani and Barack Obama. The list also includes leaders from both major political parties.

1. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY): In addition to her long and sordid ethics record, Senator Hillary Clinton took a lot of heat in 2007 — and rightly so — for blocking the release her official White House records. Many suspect these records contain a treasure trove of information related to her role in a number of serious Clinton-era scandals. Moreover, in March 2007, Judicial Watch filed an ethics complaint against Senator Clinton for filing false financial disclosure forms with the U.S. Senate (again). And Hillary's top campaign contributor, Norman Hsu, was exposed as a felon and a fugitive from justice in 2007. Hsu pleaded guilt to one count of grand theft for defrauding investors as part of a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme.

2. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI): Judicial Watch accuses Conyers of repeatedly violating the law and House ethics rules, forcing his staff to serve as his personal servants, babysitters, valets and campaign workers while on the government payroll. While the House Ethics Committee investigated these allegations in 2006, and substantiated a number of the accusations against Conyers, the committee blamed the staff and required additional administrative record-keeping and employee training. Judicial Watch obtained documentation in 2007 from a former Conyers staffer that sheds new light on the activities and conduct on the part of the Michigan congressman, which appear to be at a minimum inappropriate and likely unlawful. Judicial Watch called on the Attorney General in 2007 to investigate the matter.

3. Senator Larry Craig (R-ID): In one of the most shocking scandals of 2007, Senator Craig was caught by police attempting to solicit sex in a Minneapolis International Airport men's bathroom during the summer. Senator Craig reportedly "sent signals" to a police officer in an adjacent stall that he wanted to engage in sexual activity. When the police officer showed Craig his police identification under the bathroom stall divider and pointed toward the exit, the senator reportedly exclaimed 'No!'" When asked to produce identification, Craig presented police his U.S. Senate business card and said, "What do you think of that?" The power play didn't work. Craig was arrested, charged and entered a guilty plea. Despite enormous pressure from his Republican colleagues to resign from the Senate, Craig refused.

4. Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA): As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on military construction, Feinstein reviewed military construction government contracts, some of which were ultimately awarded to URS Corporation and Perini, companies then owned by Feinstein's husband, Richard Blum. While the Pentagon ultimately awards military contracts, there is a reason for the review process. The Senate's subcommittee on Military Construction's approval carries weight. Sen. Feinstein, therefore, likely had influence over the decision making process. Senator Feinstein also attempted to undermine ethics reform in 2007, arguing in favor of a perk that allows members of Congress to book multiple airline flights and then cancel them without financial penalty. Judicial Watch's investigation into this matter is ongoing.

5. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY): Giuliani came under fire in late 2007 after it was discovered the former New York mayor's office "billed obscure city agencies for tens of thousands of dollars in security expenses amassed during the time when he was beginning an extramarital relationship with future wife Judith Nathan in the Hamptons..." ABC News also reported that Giuliani provided Nathan with a police vehicle and a city driver at taxpayer expense. All of this news came on the heels of the federal indictment on corruption charges of Giuliani's former Police Chief and business partner Bernard Kerik, who pleaded guilty in 2006 to accepting a $165,000 bribe in the form of renovations to his Bronx apartment from a construction company attempting to land city contracts.

6. Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR): Governor Huckabee enjoyed a meteoric rise in the polls in December 2007, which prompted a more thorough review of his ethics record. According to The Associated Press: "[Huckabee's] career has also been colored by 14 ethics complaints and a volley of questions about his integrity, ranging from his management of campaign cash to his use of a nonprofit organization to subsidize his income to his destruction of state computer files on his way out of the governor's office." And what was Governor Huckabee's response to these ethics allegations? Rather than cooperating with investigators, Huckabee sued the state ethics commission twice and attempted to shut the ethics process down.

7. I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby: Libby, former Chief of Staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and fined $250,000 for lying and obstructing the Valerie Plame CIA leak investigation. Libby was found guilty of four felonies — two counts of perjury, one count of making false statements to the FBI and one count of obstructing justice — all serious crimes. Unfortunately, Libby was largely let off the hook. In an appalling lack of judgment, President Bush issued "Executive Clemency" to Libby and commuted the sentence.

8. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL): A "Dishonorable Mention" last year, Senator Obama moves onto the "ten most wanted" list in 2007. In 2006, it was discovered that Obama was involved in a suspicious real estate deal with an indicted political fundraiser, Antoin "Tony" Rezko. In 2007, more reports surfaced of deeper and suspicious business and political connections It was reported that just two months after he joined the Senate, Obama purchased $50,000 worth of stock in speculative companies whose major investors were his biggest campaign contributors. One of the companies was a biotech concern that benefited from legislation Obama pushed just two weeks after the senator purchased $5,000 of the company's shares. Obama was also nabbed conducting campaign business in his Senate office, a violation of federal law.

9. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who promised a new era of ethics enforcement in the House of Representatives, snuck a $25 million gift to her husband, Paul Pelosi, in a $15 billion Water Resources Development Act recently passed by Congress. The pet project involved renovating ports in Speaker Pelosi's home base of San Francisco. Pelosi just happens to own apartment buildings near the areas targeted for improvement, and will almost certainly experience a significant boost in property value as a result of Pelosi's earmark. Earlier in the year, Pelosi found herself in hot water for demanding access to a luxury Air Force jet to ferry the Speaker and her entourage back and forth from San Francisco non-stop, in unprecedented request which was wisely rejected by the Pentagon. And under Pelosi's leadership, the House ethics process remains essentially shut down — which protects members in both parties from accountability.

10. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV): Over the last few years, Reid has been embroiled in a series of scandals that cast serious doubt on his credibility as a self-professed champion of government ethics, and 2007 was no different. According to The Los Angeles Times, over the last four years, Reid has used his influence in Washington to help a developer, Havey Whittemore, clear obstacles for a profitable real estate deal. As the project advanced, the Times reported, "Reid received tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Whittemore." Whittemore also hired one of Reid's sons (Leif) as his personal lawyer and then promptly handed the junior Reid the responsibility of negotiating the real estate deal with federal officials. Leif Reid even called his father's office to talk about how to obtain the proper EPA permits, a clear conflict of interest.

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About the Author

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country.

Jim writes for many police and crime magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer, Campus Law Enforcement Journal, and others. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores.

Jim holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional.

J'ai étudié du français pendant que dans l'université et toujours a aimé la langue, le pays et la culture.

Ce soir, je lis un article excellent ici (Malaysia Today) et ceux-là de vous qui parle français doit le lire. Le vrai sens est perdu dans la traduction brève, c'est bien dommage !

Je suis content que je peux rappeler toujours mon français. S'il vous plaît le clic ici si vous pouvez comprendre ce message.

* Basic translation - Some stuff is lost in translation in this article which is still worth reading so please click here to get a gist of the bigger picture.

* No offense meant to those who do not understand French. I am trying to make my point that you must try and read the article in the original language to get a better understanding.

SNAPSHOT MANAGEMENT - Leaders Under Spotlight Use Emotional Intelligence by Relden Nadler

Emotional Intelligence has been found to be the critical success factor for leaders when compared with their Intelligence (IQ) and technical expertise. The further a leader goes up in an organization, the more they need Emotional Intelligence. Emotionally Intelligent leaders know and manage themselves well and understand and manage others well. These "moments of truth" happen very quickly, and stars consistently do what the average performer ignores, avoids, or is unaware of.

This article explores the invisible territory of inferences and assumptions that employees quickly make of their leaders, and leaders constantly make of their direct reports. Often incorrect or based on limited data, these assumptions of leaders are powerful influencers on employees' motivation, creativity, mood, and performance.

Leaders are under the Spotlight 24/7

Communication is important to all of us, but leaders are under the spotlight by their direct reports and the organization all the time, 24/7. Like Santa Claus, the organization sees when you are good and bad. Almost all leaders I have dealt with don't realize this to the extent that it happens. Therefore, most leaders have underestimated their influence on others and consequently have underperformed as have their teams. Most leaders are more concerned with getting their job and tasks done rather than how they are perceived by others.

Without realizing it, the snapshots of you are quickly collected to form an impression. It exemplifies what I call "Snapshot Management." Members quickly make positive or negative fixed impressions of you as a leader. If your behavior, posture, and style are similar in three to four meeting snapshots and you can count it on "One Hand," then you get "thin-sliced" as "that is you." People don't take time to truly understand your intentions or rationale. They want to know quickly if they can trust you or not. If you are unpredictable, you are untrustworthy in their eyes. Certainty, even if wrong, is more comfortable than ambivalence. These snapshots may not be accurate portraits of who you are as a leader, but unfortunately they stick in people's minds and become "reality."

How are these snapshots formed?

Below are some of the basic premises that make leadership such a challenging endeavor:

* People don't have time to truly get to know you; instead they take the easiest shortcuts.

* 2 by 4 rule: The impression you make in the first 4 seconds is so powerful that it takes 4 more minutes to change it 50% either positively or negatively.

* Many of these snapshots take place in meetings; it is often here that your image as a leader gets crystallized.

* You are always communicating, even if you are not saying anything.

* Everything you say counts. There are no second attempts, editing, or deleting of what you say.

* When your words leave your mouth, you have no control over how they are going to be interpreted.

* Listeners are constantly constructing or "story making." That means they are always interpreting what you say.

* Your words are transformed or reorganized to fit into the listener's personal story or preconceived idea of you and/or similar situations.

* There will be more than one story. Each listener will create his or her own.

* The story that is created from your communication determines the meaning, not what you actually say.

* It is the story, not what you say, that will be remembered, passed on, and communicated to others.

Given these premises, the likely outcome of your communication is that you will be misunderstood, and therefore, you need to be very clear, deliberate, and focused in your communication. There are many strategies and tools to help you win the empathy and communication battle to reach your targets. These strategies deal with communication, delivery of your message, listening well, empathy, clarifying assumptions, and other skills to use with your team or groups. Stars will do these strategies consistently or regularly.

Getting the Benefit of the Doubt

If your snapshot image is positive, your colleagues and boss will give you the "benefit of the doubt" if you miss a deadline or make a mistake. The problem occurs when these snapshots are negative, because once the impression is made, it is almost impossible to change. If this impression was created because you have been unpredictable or impulsive in your behavior, your direct reports, peers, and boss are constantly poised for that same behavior. They can't trust that you can control yourself. Even if you make considerable changes over 6-12 months, if the same impulsive behavior happens again, in most people's minds you haven't changed at all. They think, "There he or she goes again." I have been in meetings with executives talking about the performance of an individual victimized by "Snapshot Management." The question discussed was, "If this person actually made positive changes, would the executives see and recognize them?" Original snapshots are so powerful that they can blind people to the multifaceted sides of a person. All of the person's wins, strengths, and capabilities in different settings with different people can blur the original fixed snapshot, but it is a very slow process and doesn't always stick. It is crucial to become acutely aware of how you present yourself in meetings and important to learn how to manage the snapshots you give people.

Collage versus Snapshot

The goal is to counter the one hand of snapshots with a "collage" of all your successes and efforts. That may mean communicating more than you feel is necessary about what you have accomplished. Many executives say, "I don't want to toot my own horn" or "They will see my results." In taking the initiative to communicate in an informative and respectful way what you have been doing, you can ensure that your co-workers and boss "see" more of you than just a few snapshots. Otherwise, you are leaving your image management more in the hands and minds of others. Being more visible has been a strategy for many executives I have worked with, especially if they have negative snapshots ingrained in the minds of their supervisors or co-workers.

For example, here are some "micro-initiatives" you can say without boasting:

"I feel very comfortable with our progress thus far in..."

"The team is really performing well with..."

"I am very proud about..."

"I am excited with our direction with..."

Questions and Action Applications:

To help counter Snapshot Management and raise your Emotional Intelligence, you can take more responsibility for your image management and challenge the initial assumptions you have of others. Here are some questions and actions you can take:

* What are the snapshots of you? Of the top five, how many are positive or negative?

* Are you taking the opportunities to present the "collage" of your successes and efforts?

* What preparation do you need to take to ensure at meetings you are presenting your best snapshots and not being emotionally reactive?

* Do you have snapshots of people that are limiting how you see them?

* Can you spend more time inquiring about other successes they have had and multiply or expand your snapshots of them?

If three or more of your top five snapshots are negative, you will have to work hard to stay consistent and let others SEE your changes. Remember, everything you say counts, and you are under the spotlight 24/7.



About the Author:



Reldan S. Nadler, Psy.D, is a psychologist, executive coach, corporate trainer, internet radio host, and CEO of True North Leadership, Inc, an executive and organizational development firm. This article is excerpted from his new book, "Leaders' Playbook -- How to Apply Emotional Intelligence: Keys to Great Leadership." http://www.truenorthleadership.com

When I started my career as a student in the late 1960's, life was not a beach for me. During my Year one days, I discovered to my horror that my classmates were mostly brain boxes and since I was the only child in the family, mom wanted me to be at the top and it was an extremely competitive environment. Today, of my Year 1 classmates, one became a professor at Harvard university, another one also did the same in a top university in Australia, then there are in total three gynaecologists, a few accountants, one optometrist, a few teachers, stockbrokers and businesswomen while a significant number gave up their careers to be full-time mothers.

Can you imagine how I felt then? Well, have you ever sat or stood in front of a certain person in whose presence you feel less good and less intelligent? It did not make it any easier when I was selected to skip Year 4 to go to Year 5. Believe me. The stress was terrible and the competition extremely keen not forgetting the pressure that mom put on me. Therefore, when my older boy qualified for the PTS exam and was selected to skip a year from Year 3 to Year 5 , I put my foot down and refused to let him do that. At that point of time, he was so furious with me. Years down the road, he told me how thankful he was that I did not let him jump to Year 5. Yet, both my son and I went through different degrees of peer pressure to conform. The point is - when we were young, each one of us was vulnerable to being hurt in different ways and to different degrees and if we do not learn to handle our emotions, but to let our emotions handle us, then we are robbing ourselves of a very fulfilled life that we can actually enjoy.

Along this road of life, we sometimes encounter characters who love to unleash negative and destructive statements and order others around as though we owe him/her an eternal debt. The person might or might not belong to the top echelon of an institution or could be suffering from a superiority complex to mask an inferiority complex because something is lacking in him or her. That character could actually be weak and insecure. Things come to a head when there are certain qualities in your personality; certain skills or potentials in you that threaten his/her well established inflated ego. If you are less good or less intelligent as he wants you to believe, he would have ignored you to wallow in your forest of ignorance instead of putting you down. But sometimes these characters just love to attack people and go on a 'rampage' of character assassination. I have learnt that we have two choices. We can either allow the negative seeds he is trying hard to plant in your mind to take root, grow, and make a mincemeat of us if we permit. But if, on the other hand, we comprehend the psychological chess he is playing, and we are sure of ourselves, we better “demolish” the “construction” he has erected in our image and convert the debris from the psychological stumbling blocks into marvellous stepping stones. There are many historical personalities who went through this process.

Did you know that Winston Churchill was treated disdainfully by one of his mathematics teachers? Churchill was told that he was a disaster and was advised to quit school and become a brick layer. Now - let's think carefully. Had he permitted his teacher’s remarks to take root in him he would not have been listed as a distinguished Prime Minister Britain ever had. He led Britain through the World War ll. His diplomatic initiatives, administrative acumen and political know-how were brought to bear on the Second World War and he succeeded in establishing his footprints on the sand of time.

Physicists attempted to dampen the initiative skill of the Wright Brothers. When they embarked on inventing an air plane, those who chose to distract them reminded them about the Law of Gravity and its negative impact on their initiative. They were advised to channel their energies into something else instead of pursuing unachievable goal. Their critics lived to eat their words.

Another example that I can think of is Jesse Owen - the African-American legend who was humiliated by Hitler at the 1936 Berlin Olympic games. His presence was a source of irritation to Hitler with regard to the outcome of the game and in order to nib in the bud, the emerging threat, Hitler inaugurated a psychological warfare. By snubbing and humiliating Owen, his calculation was to disorganise his mental equilibrium, lower his morale as to induce a poor performance. But Owen knew the secret of transmutation. That is, he knew how to change base metals into gold. This he demonstrated by absorbing the humiliation and transforming it into extra-energy, and directed it to his leg muscles. Then came the ritual of : “on your marks, set, go” Owen made an impressive display of talent blended with style. He returned to the USA with five gold medals. His imposing monument stands like a colossus in Ohio State as a gesture for his contribution to his country. Owen refused to be put down. Frankly, I used to be such an emo wreck in the past especially from November '08 to Jan '09 but then again, it was because I felt very vulnerable due to the challenging circumstances. When under siege, I was flustered etc but now - what the heck? I would just smile, shrug it off and walk away! It is not important and I will not sweat or lose sleep over such any trivial remark/person/situation. I have learnt to let go. I have learnt NOT to get angry or offended or to feel indignant or to be a victim! I realised that I became the victim only if I allowed myself to be put down by another person.

Albert Einstein was not spared. One Thomas Jefferson Jackson See, a mathematician, Doctor of Philosophy, astronomer and biographer ridiculed Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, stating that Einstein’s Theory “has set Physics and astronomy back 1000 years”! His anti-Einstein statement was made with much prejudice. Einstein knew this very well and was not moved or separated from his pipe. The rest of us know how he persevered until the world knows the importance of Einstein's theory from then till today.

Another example is Christopher Columbus was teased and laughed at when he presented his voyage plan to Spain’s geography experts. They looked at him directly in the eyes and branded his initiative a “mission impossible”. His boiling zeal was not dampened one bit.

All the people mentioned above have shrugged off the wet blanket thrown at them and refused to be put down. What about you?

Have you found yourself in a situation where someone/persons jump at the opportunity to put you down like those mentioned above? Chances are the person has a mean streak and does not even see the value in a human being apart from himself or herself. Did you use your fist to deliver a blow to the person who attempted to put you down or complain too much like Iago in Othello? No. Never repay evil with evil. Did you accept the image he made of you by quitting your institution or your trade?No. Don't do that because that person will be jumping around gleefully that he or she managed to get at you where it hurts most. Or did you neutralise his remarks as the persons mentioned above did?

The choice is ours dear readers....To be a victim or to rise above circumstances. Let's turn stumbling blocks to stepping stones to growth!!! Then we can truly live live to the max and be happy and fulfilled.

Today, when I meet up with my old classmates or anyone for that matter, I do not feel the sense of inferiority, neither do I feel a sense of superiority. It does not matter if they earn mega dollars and I don't. It matters not to me if they are wearing branded watches and I don't. What matters most to me is that I know who I am, and I am in touch with myself, I love myself for who I am and change what needs to be changed and improve in areas of weakness. So what do I do? Hold my head up high, smile, know who I am and try to the best of my ability to be the best person that I can be because I want to live my life to the max - and not because I yearn for approval or acceptance. In this harsh and cruel world, I have discovered that there are more who are mean than those who are kind so what I need to do is to spread a little love and kindness and if my love and kindness are not appreciated, no worries because it means it is time for me to move on and to try a little bit of kindness on someone else.

Have a great day and a great life and may God bless you!

Some of you would know by now that I 'retired' from lecturing in college in 2005 and am a full-time housewife and blogger :-). As one who does not hanker for a vibrant social life, my life as a recluse in the comfort of my home gives me tremendous satisfaction as I get to do what I love at my leisure. Occasionally, I do miss the classroom atmosphere and the opportunity to talk (lecture) for two hours continuously to an audience that has no other choice but to listen to my droning voice. To keep myself sane, I coach a few students only - just to pass my time and to break the monotony of housework, reading and blogging. Some human interaction is always good for me :-) because I prefer to be at home, my safe haven.

Two years ago, I started coaching Franco and Lingmin upon Anne's recommendation. I am particularly fussy about who I teach because I always believe that it must be a mutually rewarding relationship. Believe me - it is rare to find students with humility, confidence, positive attitude, and sharp thinking skills.

Franco was the usual cocky teenager and he thought I was the usual boring adult. From the start, he has always been polite, obliging and pleasant although his face could not veil the shock he felt whenever I started writing the tasks for the week. Along the way, I gained brownie points when Franco discovered that I listen to rap and rock music and we could actually exchange views about Eminem's Mockingbird and other songs. Initially, Lingmin was better than Franco but in due time, Franco made such progress that the scales were tipped in his favor. By the end of the first year, Lingmin left (she is currently in Taiwan doing her foundation year) and Franco's friend named Kevin joined the class. Then the two boys went into competitive mode especially since I played one against the other ;). Needless to say, both progressed tremendously although there were times when they did not finish all the tasks I gave them. But then again, I am known to be a homework ogress.

I must say that Franco and Kevin are the nicest boys that I have ever taught in the last two years. I have not seen any teenager who is as good-natured, polite, easygoing, receptive to correction and ready to take on new challenges as these two boys. They have never ever been rude to me, always treating me with the utmost respect and making progress by leaps and bounds. If I made any sarcastic or witty quip, they never took offense and smiled as they could catch my humor. At the same time, both their moms are extremely nice and never ever meddled in their work.

Out of concern for them, I encouraged them to do the SPM last year on their own instead of the UEC A-level exam at the end of this year and to move to a college to do a foundation course and thereafter a degree. It was tough for them initially as they had been in the Chinese medium all the way but they took up the challenge, worked very hard while coping with their school work based on the UEC syllabus and throughout 2008, they kept telling me that they could do it and indeed they did and passed their SPM. Franco and Kevin never moaned or grumbled about their tough workload and I have never heard them say anything that is negative about any situation or person. Amazing! Both got the grades that I predicted for English and I am really proud of them because they set a goal, worked towards it and more importantly, they had faith in my advice just as I have faith in their abilities and motivation. So, Franco will be leaving for Taylor's College next week while Kevin will be going to Inti College in Nilai.

Last night, the boys treated me to Japanese dinner at Jurin in Pulau Tikus (with their own pocket money!!). I am deeply touched by their gesture of kindness and appreciation and will surely miss them. When we arrived, the waitress gave us the menu after which she took our order a while later. As I mentioned in my post yesterday, I have almost lost my voice. When it came to my turn, the bubbly waitress smiled and me and asked what I would like to order. *sigh* I only made it to the second word after which my voice tapered off and then turned into a croak :(. The girl cracked up and all of us were laughing our heads off. Take a look at Franco's choice.

This is what I had. I asked them to trade rice for an extra bowl of salad and the chef complied.

Sorry - we were all so hungry that when Kevin's dish came, we forgot to take a pic of his tempura set. Here we are - looking quite satisfied after our meal. Kevin is the one with glasses and he hails from Kuantan. The only setback was the fact that I could not talk as much as I wanted and I am sure the boys must have been deeply relieved :-). Nonetheless, yours truly came armed with pen and paper :-).

So here's wishing Franco and Kevin a lifetime of joy, fulfilment and happiness and may God bless and guide them as they proceed to tertiary education. I will miss you both dreadfully, especially your smiles and laughter and hope that you guys will keep in touch with me and more importantly, that you will not forget what I taught you!!! Take care and much as it is painful for me to say it, "Goodbye, boys! I am proud of you and know that you will make me even prouder in time to come!!!"

And here's a pic of Kuan Ju, Kanatcha and me at Zealand Cafe on Sunday, 22nd March 2009. I wrote about the two girls in my post called Oh What a Day! I guess that is the biggest reward in teaching - many of the students still keep in touch with me, some - even after twenty years and most of them are now my friends....To all my former students reading this, please know that I think of you all very often and hope that you will continue to keep in touch. You all added lots of value to my life and I hope I did the same to yours!

Once upon a time two brothers, who lived on adjoining farms, fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a conflict. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's tool box. "I'm looking for a few days' work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?" "Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you."

"Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor; in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better."

"See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence --an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.

The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge -- a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all -- and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched. "You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done." The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand.

They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother. "I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, but I have many more bridges to build.

Food for Thought:
Do you have any bridges
that you need to build?

-Author Unknown-